The cause of Argentina withdrew from WHO

On February 5, Argentina announced that he would withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), a similar move to the US last month. “President Javier Milei instructed Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein in charge of Argentina’s withdrawal from WHO,” said Manuel Adorni, a spokesman for President Argentina, at a regular press conference.

Adorni emphasized that the Argentine people “do not allow international organizations to intervene in sovereignty, especially for health”.

He said that Argentina’s decision was based on deep differences in health management, especially during the period of Covid-19 epidemic, causing the country to undergo the longest blockade of history, causing much damage to the Kinh. sacrifice. Adorni also said that WHO lacked independence from the political influence of some countries.

In addition, although WHO operates in Argentina, Mr. Adorni said it did not receive funding from the organization for health management. “Therefore, the withdrawal from WHO does not cause loss of supply to the country and does not affect the quality of domestic health services,” he said.

Adorni affirmed that the withdrawal will create “more flexibility in the implementation of the policy”, consistent with the interests of Argentina and help the country “increase available resources”. He added, this move reaffirmed the path towards a country with all sovereignty.

WHO has not yet commented on Argentina’s decision.

Data of the United Nations Health Agency showed that Argentina contributed about US $ 8.75 million to the member fee to the organization in 2022 and 2023 – accounting for 0.11% of the total budget. It is expected that the country will contribute US $ 8.25 million in the period of 2024-2025. However, most of the WHO budget comes from voluntary contributions. Argentina has not contributed any amount in recent years.

The United Nations Health Agency previously defended its reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, when Trump threatens to withdraw US funding in the first term, WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebryesus responded: “If you do not want people to die more, avoid politicizing this problem”. .

Last month, Trump criticized the United Nations Health Agency in the executive order on January 20. He said that WHO “wrongly handled Covid-19 pandemic and other global medical crises; failure to apply urgent and lack of emergency reforms to show independence from the influence. politics from member states “. These are also the reasons why the United States withdrew.

Tedros expressed his regret about Trump’s decision, emphasizing that the United States also received benefits from the organization.

WHO was founded in 1948 to protect the health of the global people. To achieve that goal, WHO coordinate international efforts, set medical standards, provide aid and conduct research to improve health problems.

Currently, WHO operates in more than 150 locations in the world.